▲ Suspect A, accused of murdering a Japanese woman they knew, arrives at court for a warrant hearing
A man in his 30s suspected of murdering a Japanese national he previously knew has been taken into custody.
Judge Noh Seung-wook, the warrant-dedicated judge at the Cheonan Branch of the Daejeon District Court, issued an arrest warrant for the suspect, a man in his 30s identified as A, who faces murder charges following a pre-trial detention hearing held at around 11:00 a.m. today (October 30).
Judge Noh stated the reason for issuing the warrant, citing that "there is a concern that the suspect may flee."
Earlier today, suspect A appeared at the Cheonan Branch for the warrant hearing, wearing a cap pulled down low and his face concealed with a white mask.
He lowered his head and remained silent, offering no response to reporters' questions such as "What was your motive for the crime?" and "Aren't you sorry to the victim?"
Suspect A is accused of wielding a weapon to kill victim B, a Japanese national in her 20s, inside an officetel in Dujeong-dong, Seobuk-gu, Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, at around 4:20 p.m. on October 28, before fleeing the scene.
According to police investigations, A visited B's residence carrying a weapon prepared in advance and attacked her. At the time, B had reportedly been on the phone calling an acquaintance for help.
Responding to the report from B's acquaintance, the police tracked escape routes and arrested suspect A at around 1:06 a.m. on October 29 at an accommodation facility in Deokjin-gu, Jeonju, North Jeolla Province.
Police investigations revealed that the two knew each other and had met twice this year, but were not in a romantic relationship.
It was also confirmed that there was no history of stalking-related reports.
Suspect A reportedly stated during police questioning, "I suffered losses from failed stock investments and saw no future, so I made up my mind to die. I was scared to die alone, and victim B, whom I knew, came to mind, so I tried to die together with B."
(Photo provided by a reader, Yonhap News)
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